A Greater Perspective...

I know it's been over two weeks since I last posted, but to be honest I am struggling with subject matter at the moment. And it seems the subject matter I would deal with, such as friends leaving, is just getting too depressing. So I would just like to share a verse that I read the other day... Just because it really shows me where my focus should be.

So a few days ago I was reading over some letters from home. Letters that friends and family had given me when I left back in November. Letters to comfort me. And letters to encourage me. I've been feeling a bit depressed and lonely here on the Mercy Ship, and so the purpose of this was to try and refocus and get reinspired for why I am here. And so I was reading through these letters and I was struck down when I read this one verse. It is Job 1: 21, and I quote from the NIV version:

Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked I shall depart.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

may the name of the Lord be praised.

Things have been difficult with so many close friends leaving, but for me this verse just offered so much hope. God gave me these friendships and he has taken them away. Some of the friends I make here I may never see again. But the emphasis should not be on the friends that I've lost - as I've made it over the past few weeks - but rather on the blessings that God has given me. If I focus on these lost friendships, I will just feel depressed and hurt. But if I focus on God and on his many blessings in my life, and if I praise him no matter what, then my soul will never be thirsty again. God bless.

The Jesus Film...

So the other day I had the opportunity of joining some Mercy Shippers in going and showing the Jesus Film to a community out at New Georgia, about a ten-kilometre drive from the ship. We took two Land Rovers and went out in convoy - Lars, the Security Officer, drove the one with all the equipment, and I drove the other with most of the Mercy Shippers. The Jesus Film is the story of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke. It was amazing to watch out in an open-air setting, with the film being projected from inside the Land Rover onto a large screen. The screen itself was attached to the Land Rover.

Before we even left the ship we had a prayer session asking God to work in people's lives. And boy, did He work! Before the film, the Pastor who organises the films (which are shown on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings - in different locations every week) in conjunction with Mercy Ships, spoke on the loud speaker and invited people to come and watch the story of Jesus. And the people came. When we started the film, there were perhaps 50 people sitting, watching the film. But when we finished this number had risen to around 500! And what was even more special was that, during the movie, when we invited people up front to accept Christ, over 150 came forward! It was so awesome to see God working in such a tangible, real way!

It was also great in that every miracle Jesus did, in the movie, was met by loud applause and cheering. And when Christ was crucified, people cried and screamed, only to rejoice again when Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples. It just brought things into sharp focus. We are here to make a difference. It's all about winning people for the Kingdom. That's all it should ever be about.

While I'm typing here I feel I should give you an update on my little adopt-a-patient (remember Matthew?). He was discharged a couple of weeks ago and returns about twice a week for a dressing change and some occupational therapy to his hand. I try and make it down to see him when he comes to the ward for his check-ups. He is recovering well from the surgery which separated his third and pinkie finger on his left hand. They had been fused together by boiling oil back in 2005. He is a very brave boy. And seeing first-hand what our nurses and medical staff go through again underlines to me the wonderful health care staff we have here. We truly are blessed. However, at the moment we are facing quite a drastic shortage of nurses, so please pray that God would send more nurses to us. And if you are a nurse - or know of any nurses - please consider sacrificing a month or two of your time to help the people of Liberia. It will be an experience that you will never forget! God bless.

More Goodbyes...

Since I last posted - which was a little over a week ago - it has been a season of much change here on the Mercy Ship. My closest friend left on Sunday. Marius Moe. He had been the M/V Africa Mercy's Deck Cadet for eight months. I remember the first time we really had a deep conversation was when we had just docked in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. I was being my usual judgmental, critical self, and was talking about the image of Mercy Ships and how important it is to uphold it. I was concerned with how some crew members (in my eyes) were portraying it. And whilst I was being critical, Marius said, "Why don't we pray for them?" Marius is indeed an amazing man of God, who constantly challenged and encouraged me to focus on what's really important in life. And he will be missed. He certainly made an impact in my life, and there is a gap now.

And, unfortunately, Marius's departure is not the only one to take place over the next few weeks. This coming Sunday sees another good friend, Chad Meyers, along with one of the really quality ward nurses, Lisa Sullins, head back home. Chad is a Canadian who has been here since October. He initially served as a Housekeeper before moving into the Communications office. The reason for this change may not have been the best circumstances imaginable (a broken leg brought about by pulling off a Matrix move off the wall, whilst dodging bullets in Spain - no, not really, it was a skateboarding accident), but it was certainly a move orchestrated by God. The Communications department has been really blessed by his presence there. And we will miss him.

But that is life on the Mercy Ship. A constant stream of arrivals and departures. But what is exciting is that there are so many more new arrivals coming whom I haven't even met. And who will have the potential to be wonderful friends. I'm on the ship for another seven and a half months! Plenty plenty time to meet new people! So not all is so sad and depressing. That's all for now. God bless.

Adopt-A-Patient...

As I've mentioned in a previous post, crew members - especially those serving in the technical departments (that is, not in health care or in the off-ship ministries) - are encouraged to get involved with the patients down on the Ward. One of the ways in which you can do this is sign up to adopt a patient for the duration of their stay in the hospital. You're their friend. You can visit outside of visiting hours and I think the most important thing is to just spend time with the patient. So that the individual feels loved and special. And it's a great way to show God's love in a practical way. This is what I'm doing at the moment.


I've adopted a little six-year old boy, Matthew, who arrived on Thursday and has already had surgery. His story is a sad story. And one that is, unfortunately, all too common here in Liberia. He fell in a pot of boiling oil when he was two. So he is here to have some plastic surgery done to his hand. When I first met him he was sitting on his bed down in B Ward, and my friend Megan, a nurse from Philadelphia, was giving him oxygen to help with his asthma. Hearing that he was my adopted patient, she offered me the oxygen mask to hold over his mouth and nose. So I gave him his oxygen. He just sat there, breathing the oxygen, and when we were done he held my hand and pulled me down to his level, smiling all the while. It was really special.

Over the past few days I've been visiting him twice a day. Unfortunately working night shifts means that I can't visit in the mornings, but I do my best to keep up a regular routine of visitations. On Friday (the day he had his surgery) I was sitting with him and he was hungry. So he handed me a banana and I fed it to him. And then we played balloon volleyball. We also talk, but I don't think he really understands me, and I struggle to understand him. But one thing he does see is the willingness to spend time with him, and he appreciates it. The one evening I went and spent over an hour in the Ward. We played hide-and-seek, balloon soccer, coloured in books, and I made a domino chain out of Jenga blocks. I'll take him up onto Deck 7 tomorrow. Crew members are allowed to sign out a patient for a short while, so that they don't get too bored down on the Ward. Although with the wonderful ward nurses that we have here, it's a wonder that that ever happens. We are truly blessed. Anyway, that's a very brief update on things here on the M/V Africa Mercy, currently on Field Service in Monrovia, Liberia. God bless.

The US Navy Visits Monrovia...

Last week the US Navy visited Monrovia. Several naval vessels, including the brand-new HSV-2 Swift and the USS Fort McHenry, were stationed in the waters off Liberia, as part of the US Navy's Africa Partnership Station. The US Navy are visiting several African states in order to facilitate humanitarian projects as well as to increase cooperation and understanding between the US and these countries.

Mercy Ships crew were invited to tour these ships. The first vessel that was in port was the HSV-2 Swift. HSV stands for High Speed Vessel. It is a very modern, ultra-fast catamaran, built and owned by the Australian Government, and on loan to the US Navy for a period of five years. It is capable of reaching a top speed of 50 knots. By comparison, the top speed of the Africa Mercy is only around 18 knots, and we typically cruise at 12 knots! I went with a large group of Mercy Shippers to this vessel last Wednesday, and we had a wonderful party with the US Navy! They also gave us a tour of this very interesting vessel.

The Swift left on Thursday morning and then it was the turn of the USS Fort McHenry to show us its colours. However, it did not enter the dock, but had been at anchor in the waters outside the harbour for the past week. So we embarked this vessel in a rather unique way. We boarded a troop landing craft and went out the port to the ship. It was very exciting - and great to be on the open sea again, albeit for a short period of time! I commented to my friend Paul Waldron as we boarded the landing craft, "Doesn't this remind you of the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan?" Indeed, the landing craft were very similar to those used to storm the beaches of Normandy back on D-Day, June 6th 1944.

The USS Fort McHenry is a very interesting ship. It is able to flood itself in order to load its fleet of landing craft and other amphibious vehicles. It is also a defensive platform, and thus is not capable of being involved in heavy offensive manouevres. Of course, the vessel does have high-tech weapons systems and defensive capabilities that allow it to defend itself if attacked. But it is primarily involved in humanitarian relief efforts throughout the globe. A couple of years ago, for example, it was one of the main US Navy vessels involved in the clean-up efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Being able to flood its central compartment, it was able to retrieve many small yachts and leisure crafts that had been washed out to sea in the storm. So having said that, this past week was very exciting - being able to visit two US Naval vessels, and to travel out to sea in a troop carrier! And, of course, it is always nice to get a different perspective on the M/V Africa Mercy! And how blessed we are to serve on this vessel!

Easter Time on the Mercy Ship...

The past few days have been very busy. But not in terms of work. I have had a number of days off – in fact, four in a row – since last Thursday, and only started a rather eventful night shift five hours ago. Eventful why? Well, let me tell you... last week Tuesday I gave a sample of my blood for analysis to become a potential blood donor. I got the results back on Wednesday and I have very healthy O Positive blood – so healthy in fact, that if O Positive blood were required, I would be number one on the list.

So I was sitting at Reception at 23h45 last night, having a chat with my good friend Chad Meyers, when the phone rings. It was the Laboratory. Before I pick up I say to Chad, “I hope they don't need my blood”. They needed my blood. Urgently. The patient who needed my blood is one of our VVF ladies who was bleeding and had a very low haemoglobin level of 6,2. My haemoglobin is extremely high (and healthy) at 16,2. And so I went down to the lab and then on to ICU where I donated. It was the first time I've ever donated blood. The 450 gram bag of life-giving blood took just twelve minutes to fill. But what made the process extra amusing was that Daniela Reger (one of our lab technicians) and I had chatted earlier and I had asked whether they would need my blood any time soon. She said that she didn't think they would need O Positive blood for a while. But they did. And she knew that I was working night shift and even organised with one of our Fire Panel Trained ward nurses to watch the desk while I was down below donating. It is rather strange (but awesome) to think that my blood is now flowing through (and helping save the life of) another human being. It is a very special feeling. The photo above shows Daniela and myself with my blood. That's my most important news, but let's now get on to the celebration of Easter on the M/V Africa Mercy.

Easter is a very special time. It's a time of sadness and joy, a time of crucifixion and resurrection, a time of life conquering the grave. And on the ship there were many activities that highlighted the beauty of our Saviour's sacrifice. Last Thursday (the whole night into Friday morning) there was a very informal set up on the dock, for those wanting to come and pray with Jesus. The theme was the Garden of Gethsemane, and the agony of Jesus's tears. Friday was of course Good Friday, and we had a lovely service in the International Lounge. I really enjoyed it. After the service the crew were invited to kneel down on a red ribbon symbolising Jesus's blood washing over our sins. We then could pray together or alone and just focus on what Jesus's sacrifice meant to us. I sat next to Marius Moe, a great friend, brother, and man of God. We had our arms on each other's shoulders, brothers in Christ.

Saturday was a very busy day. I went to God's Children's Home Orphanage in the morning, and that was a really good experience. Working at Reception, one often is unable to visit such orphanages (as shift work can be debilitating to one's involvement in external activities), but I was really happy I had the day off to visit this one! God's Children's Home is a twenty minute walk from the ship, and it has 37 children there, ranging in age from about three right up to sixteen. We had the children perform an Easter play and then decorated crosses to hang in their windows (CROSS = Christ Rescued Our Spirits and Souls). I then went outside and played soccer with some of the older boys. It was great fun. In the afternoon I went to Duala Market with Liz Ketels, Liz Espeland, and Christine Martin. We went to the UNMIL store and then on to the Market. We browsed in the stalls, looking at fabrics and materials. After a while we took a long, slow walk back to the ship. My feet were not happy! But that was because I chose to wear my strops and not proper shoes. Dinner on Saturday was out on the dock, relaxing with good company.

Easter Sunday started early with a service up on Deck 8 aft at 06h00 – the traditional sunrise service. After this time there was another service at 08h00 on the dock. It was a good service, but I must have lost half my body weight in terms of sweat! Phew, it was so hot! Easter Brunch was at 10h00 and once again our galley and dining room staff did an outstanding job! It was a wonderful meal. In the afternoon I headed to Elwa Beach with my cabin mate Dan Huber, and several other Mercy Shippers. It was good to spend some time away from the ship. And swim in the sea! The first time I've done that here in Liberia! In the evening there was Easter Open House on the ship, where various families opened up their cabins to the crew. It is really good to spend time with the amazing men and women of God here on the ship. We are truly blessed.

Yesterday (Easter Monday) a group of Mercy Shippers headed out to Cece Beach, and so I joined them. The only difference was that I cycled there and they went in the Landrovers! It was a good cycle and a good workout. Although the traffic cycling through Duala Market was a bit scary. But the beach at Cece was fantastic! Quality time spent with quality people. And I was so happy I brought my rugby ball! It's a mini rugby ball I bought at Johannesburg Duty-Free. It has been a really good purchase. Although the Americans throw it like an American football and the South African, Australasian, and British crew members throw it the way it was made to be thrown! But nevertheless it has brought great entertainment to my friends. And with that little comment on the differences in throwing technique between rugby and American football, I bid you all a very fond farewell – and a belated happy Easter – until my next entry. God bless.

Home - The Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour...

As I type this, I am sitting back in Reception on the Africa Mercy. I had a wonderful, relaxing break in Cape Town, South Africa. I arrived back on the ship on Wednesday late afternoon, after a holiday of nine days - although it was only a week in Cape Town. Travelling home took a lot of time! Being home reminded me of how much I love Cape Town. It is where I grew up. My family and friends are there... But being home also made me realise how much I love the M/V Africa Mercy, and her crew. That being said, I am really happy to be back on the Mercy Ship for the next few months.

This past Sunday I took part in my 18^th Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour – the world's largest timed cycling event. I cycled it for Mercy Ships and the people of Liberia. That was the vision that God gave me when I heard I would be coming back to do the race. So I cycled it with a large Mercy Ships flag streaming behind my saddle, and I wore a Mercy Ships t-shirt as well. This can be seen in the photo here. It was a wonderful experience, and rather humbling as well. I now know that I certainly am not “Murray The Cyclist”. I was humbled because I cramped from around the 40 km mark. I cramped for over 65 kms of the 109 km route! It was terrible. I had to stop a couple of times to get massages. But it was good in that I knew I wasn't riding it competitively, and so I was happy to complete the event in 5 hrs 10 mins. It was great to give Mercy Ships the publicity. And, hopefully, some spectators or fellow cyclists will be curious as to what Mercy Ships does, and will google it on the Internet. It's all about creating awareness. But all glory must go to God. I am so thankful that he gave me this opportunity to return home to Cape Town, and I am so thankful to be back on the ship.

Moving on, I am really wanting to extend my time of service on the Mercy Ship, until possibly the end of the 2008 Outreach in November/December. I feel that God is wanting me to stay on longer. This would be for another five months (from my original departure date of June 2008). If you feel led to support or continuing to support me, then please contact me.

Finally, I must thank all of you for your support – both financial or in prayer – towards me and my time on the Mercy Ship. I have really appreciated it. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog, and I will keep the posts coming! God bless.